Latest news with #NCER
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Finding soft landing amid hard times
PETALING JAYA: Azman Mohamed Asmayatim, 38, was among staff of a Malay daily who accepted a Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) in 2018. Little did he know, the move would set him on an unexpected entrepreneurial path. 'When the opportunity to take VSS arose at my previous workplace, I didn't have much choice as there were only two photographers at the Penang bureau. One more senior colleague turned down the offer and as a result, I had to accept it. 'My company didn't offer a lump sum payment. Instead, they paid it like a salary. Then, due to financial issues, the payments were delayed. However in 2023, they finally settled the outstanding payments,' Azman said in a phone interview with theSun. Despite the setback, Azman was determined to make the most of his situation. Equipped with a degree in photography and digital studies, he had honed his graphic design skills through freelance work while in the media industry. Having a passion for business, he started a home-based printing business designing T-shirt and personalised name stickers. 'I only took on small jobs such as schoolbook name stickers. The income was enough to sustain my small family. But when the pandemic hit, my supplier shut down, which impacted my business. To make ends meet, I worked with a vehicle insurance agent shop for a year.' Later, his former employer offered his old job back to him, but he would have to relocate to Kuala Lumpur. 'With a newborn son who needed extra care due to health issues at the time, I had no choice but to decline the offer and remain in Taiping, where my family had settled.' The economic landscape was challenging post-pandemic, with limited job opportunities. But Azman found hope through the North Corridor Economic Region (NCER), which hosted several entrepreneurial programmes. Through one of these initiatives, he secured a photography gig on a project basis. But in 2023, the NCER office near his home shut down, leaving him once again struggling to find work in Taiping. 'I was already in my mid-30s then.' As he and his wife welcomed their second child, Azman made the decision to pivot. 'I knew I had to come up with a new business plan to support my growing family.' The turning point came when he chanced upon a soy milk and tofu-making class, popularly known as 'taufufa', which cost RM220. 'I learned about the class through a friend's WhatsApp post. After thinking it over for a few days, I decided to give it a try. The one-day class taught participants how to make soy milk and tofu. 'It wasn't easy at all. I had to spend a lot of time researching and developing the right consistency of tofu that I felt confident would be marketable,' he said, adding that he attended the class in October 2024 and began making tofu at home within two weeks. His first five attempts failed, the tofu was too soft, and the texture was off. But by the sixth try, he struck gold. Now, seven months into the business, Azman runs a roadside stall in Kampung Boyan, Taiping, where his brown sugar syrup is a customer favourite. 'Many of my customers prefer to have soy milk with brown sugar syrup.' Azman said although the love of photography remains close to his heart, he is now fully focused on his taufufa business, adding that he hopes to scale up his operations someday. 'I hope to supply soy milk and taufufa to other businesses in the district. 'Although my income is a bit lower than what I used to make, I am happy.'
New Straits Times
08-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
UniKL-ASTI to drive sustainable transport innovation in northern peninsula
KANGAR: The establishment of Universiti Kuala Lumpur Asia Sustainable Transportation Institute (UniKL-ASTI) in Perlis will serve as a major catalyst in advancing sustainable transportation and logistics in the northern region. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the institute, which broke ground today and is slated for completion by June 25, 2028, will serve as a premier reference and centre of excellence, equipped with modern infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of the transportation industry. "I view the establishment of UniKL-ASTI as a highly strategic move, not just for Perlis but also for the national education and logistics landscape," he said in his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony. The groundbreaking event was opened by the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail. Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the 60-acre campus, located next to the Perlis Inland Port (PIP), would complement the development of the PIP mega project. He said the campus was expected to become a key driver for cross-border cargo flow between Malaysia and Thailand, with trade volume projected to hit US$30 billion (RM132 billion) by 2027. "UniKL-ASTI will be a vital component of the regional logistics development ecosystem under the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), potentially positioning Perlis as a new strategic logistics hub in northern Malaysia," he said. UniKL-ASTI will offer a range of diploma and degree programmes in advanced Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) fields, including Heavy Vehicle Maintenance Technology, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) Technology. Meanwhile, the Raja of Perlis said the development of UniKL-ASTI would serve as a reference centre and hub of excellence, fully equipped with conducive infrastructure and support facilities that meet the demands of today's transport and logistics industry. "The institute will benefit the people of Perlis and also those in other northern states," the Ruler said. He emphasised the importance of cultivating a love for knowledge among Malaysians, particularly in Perlis, as knowledge was the foundation of personal and societal development. The event was also graced by the Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail; Raja Puan Muda of Perlis Tuanku Dr Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil; Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli and Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang. Kw: NST news, Malaysia news, Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Universiti Kuala Lumpur Asia Sustainable Transportation Institute (UniKL-ASTI) in Perlis, major catalyst in advancing sustainable transportation and logistics, northern region.
New Straits Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
NCER records RM20.38 billion in realised investments in Kedah last year
ALOR STAR: The Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) recorded RM20.38 billion in realised investments in Kedah in 2024, a significant increase from RM11.6 billion the previous year. Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) chief executive, Datuk Mohamad Haris Kader Sultan, attributed this achievement to close collaboration between the Kedah state government and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida). He said the positive investment trend had continued into 2025, with RM9.11 billion in realised investments recorded as of May 31, creating nearly 2,000 job opportunities. "This strong performance reflects the high level of confidence investors and industry players have in the future potential of Kedah and the northern region as a whole. "NCIA will continue to play a vital role, strengthening collaboration with the Kedah state government and relevant agencies to ensure investment realisation in the state meets the expectations of investors," he said in a statement issued after attending the Kedah NCER Steering Committee meeting, chaired by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor. Meanwhile, Sanusi said that the NCIA had secured five investors for Phase 1 of the Kedah Rubber City (KRC) project, located in the Padang Terap district. He added that Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) had completed the electricity infrastructure for KRC. "The state government will apply for funding from the Economy Ministry to upgrade the road connecting Pokok Sena to Padang Terap," he told reporters following the meeting. Sanusi also announced that the NCIA has attracted a potential investor for the Kedah Science and Technology Park in Bukit Kayu Hitam. In addition, the NCIA has completed the Integrated Community and Economic Centre (iCON) project in Yan, while the Baling iCON facility has reached 90 per cent completion. iCON is an extension of NCER's empowerNCER entrepreneurship development programme, aimed at improving community livelihoods and economic participation. Sanusi expressed his gratitude to the federal government for facilitating the smooth implementation of NCIA-led projects across the state.
The Sun
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Kedah sees RM20.38b in realised investments
ALOR SETAR: The Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), through collaboration with the Kedah state government and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), has realised investments totalling RM20.38 billion in 2024, up from RM11.6 billion recorded the previous year. NCER chief executive Datuk Mohamad Haris Kader Sultan said this positive momentum has continued into this year, with RM9.11 billion in realised investments recorded as of May 31, creating nearly 2,000 jobs. 'This strong performance reflects investors' and industry players' confidence in Kedah's long-term prospects, and in the northern region as a whole. 'NCER will continue to play a key role while strengthening its cooperation with the state government and relevant agencies to ensure that the realisation of investments in Kedah is enhanced further and meets the standards expected by investors,' he said at the NCER Aidiladha Get-Together event here today. Prior to the event, the NCER presented its investment performance to Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor during the Kedah State Steering Committee Meeting. He was also given updates on strategic projects such as the Kedah Rubber City and the Kedah Science and Technology Park, as well as plans to boost Kedah's tourism sector. These include the implementation of the Integrated Economic and Community Centre (iCON), upgrades to tourism facilities in Mong Gajah and Tasik Pedu, and the development of Dataran Bukit Kayu Hitam. 'The iCON project is a continuation of NCER's entrepreneurship development programme, empowerNCER. 'Previously, entrepreneurs received training and support to start their businesses — now they are being provided with physical business premises to help accelerate their growth,' said Mohamad Haris. He added that the iCON Yan development is fully completed and will begin operations soon, while iCON Baling has reached 90 per cent completion. 'Demand for business space at both locations has been very encouraging due to rental rates being significantly lower than market value,' he said. Meanwhile, Muhammad Sanusi said the state government is grateful and fully supports NCER's efforts to develop the iCON projects in Kedah, calling it a meaningful initiative to bridge the urban–rural development gap by unlocking the potential of less-developed areas. 'I hope NCER will continue to play its role in supporting the Kedah state government's socio-economic development efforts. 'I am confident there is still considerable potential in Kedah to be tapped, particularly in the investment, tourism, and agriculture sectors,' he said.
New Straits Times
22-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Perak, Perhilitan to tackle rising human-elephant conflicts
IPOH: The state government will hold discussions with the Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) to seek a solution to the recurring human-elephant conflict along the East-West Highway (JRTB) from Gerik to Jeli. Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the state acknowledged the recent developments in the area and is taking the matter seriously. He said that a study on elephant behaviour would be conducted as part of efforts to address the issue. "I've discussed this matter with the relevant authorities, and we need to understand elephant behaviour more comprehensively. Recently, we've observed herds of elephants crossing that route together. "There may be an underlying reason prompting the animals to cross. Therefore, we will consult with Perhilitan, who possess deeper expertise in this area. We need to study the elephants' habits and what triggers these crossings," he said. He told reporters this after attending the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) Perak State Gathering Ceremony at the Casuarina Hotel today. Saarani said that during the development of the Ganda Agropolitan Project in Gerik, rubber plantations had previously been disrupted by elephants foraging for food. "In the end, we reached a compromise by designating a specific area for the elephants. This prevented further disturbances. That experience helped us better understand their behaviour. "So in relation to this incident along the JRTB, I'm not certain of the cause. We need to investigate whether it was due to an accident involving a calf or another factor," he said. He also urged motorists to remain vigilant when travelling along the route to prevent any untoward incidents. Yesterday, police suggested that an elephant attack, which damaged a car along the Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway last night, might have been triggered by a car horn that startled the animals. This conclusion is based on a report lodged by the 39-year-old owner of the damaged vehicle regarding the incident, which occurred at Km11 of the highway. Gerik district police chief Superintendent Zulkifli Mahmood said the incident took place at 8.15pm, when the driver, travelling in a Toyota Vios from Jeli towards Gerik, encountered a group of elephants crossing the road.
